Rapid inactivation of Penicillium digitatum spores using high-density nonequilibrium atmospheric pressure plasma

Journal Article · Mon Apr 12 00:00:00 EDT 2010 · Applied Physics Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3399265· OSTI ID:21347400

Iseki, Sachiko; Hori, Masaru ^[1]; Ohta, Takayuki; Aomatsu, Akiyoshi ^[2]; Ito, Masafumi ^[3]; Kano, Hiroyuki ^[4]; Higashijima, Yasuhiro ^[5]

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1. Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8603 (Japan)
2. Department of Opto-Mechatronics, Faculty of Systems Engineering, Wakayama University, 930 Sakaedani, Wakayama 640-8510 (Japan)
3. Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, Meijo University, 1-501 Shiogamaguchi, Tenpaku-ku, Nagoya 468-8502 (Japan)
4. NU EcoEngineering Co., Ltd., 1237-87, Kurozasa-cho, Miyoshi-shi, Aichi 470-0201 Japan (Japan)
5. NU System Co. Ltd., 2271-129, Shimoshidami, Moriyama-ku, Nagoya 463-0003 (Japan)

A promising, environmentally safe method for inactivating fungal spores of Penicillium digitatum, a difficult-to-inactivate food spoilage microorganism, was developed using a high-density nonequilibrium atmospheric pressure plasma (NEAPP). The NEAPP employing Ar gas had a high electron density on the order of 10{sup 15} cm{sup -3}. The spores were successfully and rapidly inactivated using the NEAPP, with a decimal reduction time in spores (D value) of 1.7 min. The contributions of ozone and UV radiation on the inactivation of the spores were evaluated and concluded to be not dominant, which was fundamentally different from the conventional sterilizations.

• OSTI ID: 21347400
• Journal Information: Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 96, Issue 15; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3399265; (c) 2010 American Institute of Physics; ISSN 0003-6951
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE
ELECTRON DENSITY
FOOD
INACTIVATION
MICROORGANISMS
OZONE
PENICILLIUM
PLASMA
PRESERVATION
SPORES
STERILIZATION
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
EUMYCOTA
FUNGI
PLANTS
RADIATIONS